Anthony Patterson gives away possession for Sunderland.

Colby Bishop gets a head to the ensuing cross but it's over the bar - it's the first sight of goal the Portsmouth forward has had all game.

Dennis Cirkin is straight into the action as he takes a tumble under the challenge of Zak Swanson - referee Thomas Bramall isn't interested again but this one looks more convincing than the Eliezer Mayenda one in the first period.

A change at the start of the second half for Sunderland and it's an enforced one.

Dennis Cirkin is on for Aji Alese with the full-back looking like he may have tweaked a calf muscle in the first period.

Sunderland are moving back to within two points of the top two in the Championship while only goals scored is keeping Portsmouth out of the relegation zone.

Crewe's 3-1 lead over Bromley in League Two has them up to second place as things stand.

How will things change in the next 45 minutes?

Sunderland very much in touch with the top three as it stands...

Image source, Opta

Image source, Rex Features

Crewe are moving up to second in League Two as it stands.

Omar Bogle and Jack Lankester came off the bench to score late goals in Wednesday's comeback win over Carlisle and both were rewarded with a start today by boss Lee Bell.

They've certainly justified their selections - Bogle has scored twice and Lankester once to put the Alex on top.

Michael Cheek's penalty gave Bromley some hope but, having made it 2-1, they immediately conceded again and are heading for a first league loss since mid-October.

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

Patience will be key for the rest of the game, they will need that second goal at some point.

Sunderland have had opportunities, but it's all about being clinical, they need that breathing space.

That partnership between Isidor and Mayenda is working well, playing the two strikers is giving Portsmouth something to worry about.

They just need to be wary of the counter-attack.

Image source, Rex Features

Wilson Isidor's eighth goal of the season separates the sides and a lot of it is about visiting goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.

When Eliezer Mayenda slipped the ball through to Isidor, Schmid was outside his area but rather than get right back into his goal he tried to meet the Sunderland attacker on the edge of the box, making the finish much easier.

Schmid redeemed himself with a brilliant save from Adil Aouchiche while Ryley Towler cleared off the line from Patrick Roberts although that effort might have been going just wide.

Isidor thought he had a second just before the break but was correctly flagged just offside before Mayenda hit the side netting with another effort.

Josh Murphy has had Porsmouth's best moments - curling one effort over but also choosing to cross when there was no-one in the middle and he should have taken a shot.

Will Sunderland rue the number of chances they have missed?

How many chances do Sunderland want?

Eliezer Mayenda gets in down the right - he must score - he hammers it into the side netting.

We are into two minutes of time added on.

Sunderland think they have a second goal and Wilson Isidor is away celebrating after smashing the ball past Nicolas Schmid.

Hang on though, the flag is up, he's offside - but only just.

Correct decision.

Eliezer Mayenda goes down under a challenge from Ryler Towler.

The Portsmouth defender does have a bit of Mayenda's shirt in his hand but not enough for referee Thomas Bramall to point to the spot.

On we go...

More time and space for Josh Murphy as he bursts past Dan Neil - he goes for the curler from the edge of the box but it dips just over the bar and Sunderland survive.

Guy Whittingham
Former Portsmouth manager on BBC Radio Solent

Murphy was in behind but he decided to square it, you would've thought he would score, given the form he's in at the moment.

Some encouraging signs from a Portsmouth perspective, they should really be picking up some confidence.

Remember what I said about how open this is?

Well now Adil Aouchiche finds some room in the Portsmouth area and tries to place the ball beyond Nicolas Schmid but the goalkeeper makes a comfortable save.

Is this Portsmouth's moment? Erm, no...

Josh Murphy gets free down the left from a brilliant ball by Marlon Pack.

Murphy should shoot but he crosses to....no-one.

If he'd looked he'd have seen Colby Bishop wasn't there for the cross.

Adil Aouchiche cuts in from the left for Sunderland and there's no tackle forthcoming so he takes the invitation to have a go at goal from distance.

Nicolas Schmid does well at full stretch to keep it out.

Not sure Pompey want to keep giving the Sunderland man that sort of time and space.

Image source, Rex Features

This is the fourth best home record against the fourth worst away in the Championship.

You can see why, on both accounts.

Portsmouth are yet to test Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland goal but they are getting some joy down the home side's right and win a corner.

Patterson does enough to paw the ball away from danger.